Pope Leo XIV continued his diplomatic tour of Turkey on Saturday with a highly symbolic stop at Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, marking his first visit to a Muslim place of worship since assuming leadership of the global Catholic Church in May.
The visit comes as part of a broader interfaith engagement agenda designed to strengthen dialogue between Christian and Muslim institutions at a time of rising global tensions and persistent concerns over religious intolerance.
Escorted by religious leaders, including Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the pope spent several minutes inside the mosque, observing its historic architecture and the quiet atmosphere of the prayer hall.
Following tradition, he removed his shoes before entering, a moment that observers described as both respectful and symbolically important for bridging religious divides. According to mosque officials, the pontiff expressed genuine appreciation for the site’s spiritual significance.
Some onlookers celebrated the pope’s presence, saying his arrival promoted peace and challenged growing Islamophobia. Others were frustrated by the security lockdown that temporarily restricted access to the mosque, including local worshippers who had travelled long distances.
Supporters argued that just as Christians open their churches to Muslim visitors, the pope should be welcomed into Islamic spaces. Critics, however, questioned the timing and necessity of the visit.
Pope Leo XIV’s predecessors made similar visits in 2006 and 2014, and the gesture has maintained diplomatic weight each time.
Notably, unlike previous popes, Leo XIV bypassed the nearby Hagia Sophia — a site whose conversion back into a mosque in 2020 sparked global concern over cultural preservation and religious coexistence.
Later in the day, the pope is scheduled to meet various Christian leaders, culminating in a joint declaration with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Although the contents remain undisclosed, analysts expect the document to address issues of religious freedom, humanitarian crises in the Middle East, and cooperation among Christian denominations.
He will also lead a Mass at Volkswagen Arena, where thousands of worshippers are expected, before departing for Lebanon — the second phase of his first official foreign journey.
